The Copernican Period in the lunar geologic timescale runs from approximately 1.1 billion years ago to the present day. The base of the Copernican period is defined by impact craters that possess bright optically immature ray systems. The crater Copernicus is a prominent example of rayed crater, but it does not mark the base of the Copernican period. No mare basalts are known to have erupted within the Copernican period, and for this reason, the Moon's internal geologic activity is thought to have effectively ceased by this time.
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“Stupid word, that. Period. In America it means full stop like in punctuation. Thats stupid as well. A period isnt a full stop. Its a new beginning. I dont mean all that creativity, life-giving force, earth-mother stuff, I mean its a new beginning to the month, relief that youre not pregnant, when you dont have to have a child.”
—Michelene Wandor (b. 1940)